Palo Alto Weekly

Deaths

Longtime San Francisco Giants fan Michael Derek Ashworth of Palo Alto lost his battle with complications from non-Hodgkins Lymphoma on July 16, 2011, at the age of 66. The outdoor enthusiast also followed the San Francisco 49ers, played golf, was a member of the Palo Alto Lawn Bowls Club and played softball with the Slonkers in the Palo Alto Recreation slow pitch league.

He was born Jan. 19, 1945, in Burlingame and raised in Palo Alto. He graduated from Cubberley High in 1962 before serving four years of active duty in Vietnam as a flight engineer on a Lockheed P3 Orion with Patrol Squadron Nine out of Moffett Field.

He later attended Foothill College from 1967-70 and was graduated from San Jose State in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering. His interest in flying carried him into a career as a flight attendant with United Airlines from 1973 until his death.

He was married for 32 years to his wife Marsha, a fellow flight attendant whom he met during an all-night flight to Chicago, and was the father of Christopher and Molly. He is survived by all three.

He was a brother to Janice Cavalla, Toni Doose, Cindy Giffin, Sheri Baker, Larry Hamilton and John Hamilton.

He loved life, his family and followed the World Series-winning exploits of his San Francisco Giants last season while actively competing for the Palo Alto Lawn Bowls Club. His name appears on the club's tournament board multiple times as a winner of various pairs tournaments.

He also was an avid soccer coach in the CYSA and was a big fan of NASCAR, even attending the Richard Petty Racing School. He cherished driving his 1962 yellow 356 Porsche around town.

A memorial service will be held on Sept. 10 at 11 a.m. at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 178 Clinton St. in Redwood City. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations can be made to St. Peter's Episcopal Church.

In her earlier life, she had a long career as an executive secretary in the fields of advertising and broadcasting, beginning with NBC in New York and San Francisco, and moving to other enterprises.

Born in Winchendon, Mass., she graduated from Greenwich High School in Greenwich, Conn., in 1942. In 1943, she completed a secretarial and administrative skills course at the Katherine Gibbs School in New York.

She continued her secretarial career after moving to California, subsequently partnering with her husband, Edward, to form Gomac Enterprises, an independent television sports production firm in the early 1970s.

From 1981 to 2006 she was one of the top advertising salespeople for the program of the annual Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance.

"Mother was known for her famous hugs, her warm smile and loving, kind heart," her daughter, Robin Polastri, said.

A member of Valley Presbyterian Church in Portola Valley since 1979, she frequently served as a deacon, providing comfort and care to members of the congregation, the family said.

For decades, she and Edward — who died in January 2011 and was the public address announcer at Stanford Stadium for 39 years — coordinated Stanford tailgate parties for their many friends.

She is survived by her daughter, Robin of Half Moon Bay, step-sons Gordon Macaulay of Albuquerque, N.M., and Duncan Macaulay of Cave Creek, Ariz.; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A celebration of her life will be held at Valley Presbyterian Church, 945 Portola Road in Portola Valley, at 1 p.m. on Oct. 16. The family prefers memorial donations to Valley Presbyterian Church.

This story contains 598 words.

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